TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language (in a non-Anglophone country, usually)
TESOL = Teaching English as a Second/Other Language or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (in an Anglophone country, usually)

TEFL is probably more accurate for China.

Last edited by spiral78 on Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:35 pm; edited 1 time in total

Do you plan on only ever teaching in China? If so TEFL would do it, but if you think you may ever want to teach elsewhere you might want TESOL. I have no personal experience of which is best outside of China, but it's something you might want to look into before you decide.

Do you plan on only ever teaching in China? If so TEFL would do it, but if you think you may ever want to teach elsewhere you might want TESOL. I have no personal experience of which is best outside of China, but it's something you might want to look into before you decide.

Do you plan on only ever teaching in China? If so TEFL would do it, but if you think you may ever want to teach elsewhere you might want TESOL. I have no personal experience of which is best outside of China, but it's something you might want to look into before you decide.

If OP is teaching outside of China, wouldn't they have to get an on-site certificate anyways? Certainly you need those here in Turkey and in the country that must not be discussed; my impression is China is an anomaly in its acceptance of online certs.

TBH ... It doesnt really make a difference if its TEFL / TESOL. It does make a difference what the actual course and content it ... an online course wont be acceptable in many regions of the world no matter the acronym written on it.

TBH ... It doesnt really make a difference if its TEFL / TESOL. It does make a difference what the actual course and content it ... an online course wont be acceptable in many regions of the world no matter the acronym written on it.

I thought in a lot of parts of China it didn't really matter where your cert is from, just as long as you have one for Visa purposes.